Tiresias in T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land: Exploring Transgender Representation in the Modern Context

Abstract

This research paper delves into the representation of transgender identity through the character of Tiresias in Thomas Stearns Eliot’s ‘The Waste Land,’ a landmark modern poem that explores life in London in the aftermath of World War I. Tiresias is the character appearing in ‘The Fire Sermon’ section of the poem who transverses both male and female genders thereby emerging as an embodiment of gender fluidity. This research portrays Tiresias as transgender to discuss transgender representation in the modern context. For this, the study draws upon mythological allusions, literary analysis, queer theory, artistic expressions, and legal initiatives across the world. The research aims to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the transgender experiences including the struggles and challenges faced by them in the contemporary world to foster empathy. The findings of this study signal the beginning of the Trans era that holds promising possibilities for the future of trans individuals.